2019 Ford F-150: engine stalls while driving

Filed Oct 28, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · UT

I am filing a safety complaint regarding a known manufacturing defect in the Variable Cam Timing (VCT) system of my 2019 Ford F-150 equipped with the 2nd Generation 3.5L EcoBoost engine. The vehicle currently has approximately 80,000 miles. The vehicle is experiencing severe cam phaser degradation due to failing internal locking pins, a widespread issue previously acknowledged by Ford under Customer Satisfaction Program 21N03. This mechanical failure causes a violent rattling noise upon cold starts, indicating a lack of oil pressure retention. More critically, as the component degradation worsens, it causes significant engine lag, severe hesitation during acceleration, and intermittent stalling. This presents a severe safety hazard, as the vehicle has experienced sudden power loss and hesitation while attempting to merge into high-speed highway traffic and execute turns, creating an immediate risk of a collision. Despite this being a well-documented factory defect in the 2017–2019 model years, Ford corporate has declined out-of-warranty or goodwill assistance to resolve the issue. I am requesting that the federal safety agency investigate this systemic powertrain defect, as the unpredictable loss of propulsion and stalling poses a direct threat to driver and passenger safety.

Filed Sep 25, 2026 · Transmission · KS

While driving on a residential road, my 2019 Ford F-150 (10R80 10-speed automatic with 88k miles) lost power to the wheels – the engine revved but the truck would not move. It did not recover after I shifted to reverse, then park, then shut the engine off and restarted. The vehicle had to be towed. This followed an earlier event on or around July 7, 2026 (at ~86,500 miles) where the transmission failed to downshift from 4th gear at a stop and stalled the engine, recovering only after cycling the shifter. The truck has a history of hard shifting into and past 4th gear for over a year now. No warning lights appeared during these events. The safety risk is that the transmission intermittently loses drive engagement and can stall the vehicle in traffic. When the engine stalls, power brake assist is lost after one or two pedal applications. Had the loss of drive occurred in an intersection or on the highway rather than a low-speed residential road, it could have caused a collision. An authorized Ford dealer has twice been unable to duplicate the fault on test drives, consistent with the intermittent 10R80 CDF clutch cylinder hydraulic leak described in Ford TSB 25-2126. The dealer’s technician suspects an F-clutch concern.

Filed Sep 8, 2026 · Driver assistance, Transmission · IN

I reported transmission issue to my dealer years ago. It started when I would start the truck in the morning and put it in reverse. It would do nothing than al of a sudden lunge in reverse. Than it would clear up and not do it for several months. I pretty much got the blow off from the dealer. Cold Oil, linkage sticking bs. Of course, now it’s out of warranty. The transmission shifts hard and even slips out of gear. It stalled tonight at a stop light because it banged into gear. I have less than a hundred thousand miles on this truck. It’s not even safe to drive down the road. You never know when it’s going to shift out of gear . Or lunge forward when it shifts into the next gear.

Filed Aug 15, 2026 · Transmission · NC

The transmission consistently slips, stalls, and shifts very aggressively between gears, specifically between gears 3-4, 7-8, and 6-5. This occurs at various speeds and levels of acceleration. This puts everyone on the road at risk as it makes it difficult to control the speed of the vehicle. Vehicle is available for inspection upon request. This was inspected at a Ford dealership and confirmed to be a problem by the transmission specialist. There are no warming lamps or error messages.

Filed Jul 22, 2026 · Body, Transmission · 212,000 miles · NC

The contact owns a 2019 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle abruptly lost power, decelerated and stalled. The contact was able to maneuver the vehicle off the road and parked the vehicle. The vehicle was later towed to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the driveshaft had sheared off inside the shaft and the vehicle was undrivable and informed the contact that the drive shaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer was notified of the failure and informed that the vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V986000 (POWER TRAIN, STRUCTURE). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 212,000.

Filed Jul 21, 2026 · Transmission · MO

While driving on the highway at approximately 65mph the trucks display showed that the transmission shifted from 9th gear down to 1st gear, the truck however did not stall or shift hard. Shortly after the Ford pass sent a message stating there is a power train malfunction / reduced power. And that the transmission control module has detected a concern when trying to shift 4th gear. And a failsafe logic disabled 4th gear for the remainder of the key cycle.

Filed Jul 18, 2026 · Transmission · TX

Typical known issue with the 10speed transmission. Stall shifting between 3rd and 5th gear. When shifting under acceleration and shifting from 3rd to 5th the transmission hangs and then slams into 5th. Happens frequently.

Filed Jun 14, 2026 · Driver assistance, Engine · TX

Over the years the engine has felt like it was slipping or stalling. It appears to be increasing more. Sometimes it happens while cruise control is on. Today, the engine slipped for a prolonged time, more than usual, and then RPMs decreased. Warning sign of a “wrench” appeared on screen and said see manual. I was also unable to put vehicle in reverse. Slips more at lower speeds when accelerating.

Filed Apr 28, 2026 · Transmission · NC

This is related to the incident report number XXX I filed previously. Before, between, and after that incident and this one reported today. The vehicle performs mostly normal, the severe issues are completely random and unpredictable. On 4/28/26 I started my truck and left to take my daughter to her [XXX] pediatrician appointment. I left my neighborhood and turned left into traffic. I didn’t speed up much, as the red light on the street stopped me about 100 yards down the road. Then, when green light hit I attempted to accelerate. The vehicle appeared to be stuck in 6th gear and would only rev up the RPMs to about 4000 and barely move forward. I managed to drive about 50ft and get the vehicle off onto the grass shoulder infront of someone’s house. I shifted the vehicle from park to drive and turned it on and off multiple times. This did not resolve the issue and I eventually put the truck in 4x4 in an attempt to make more power and drive forward. This entire time I’m on the shoulder of morning 55mph traffic, hazard lights on, with my infant in the back seat. I managed to get the vehicle to shift into 2nd gear and drive up the road. Once it came up to operating temperature it would shift into higher gears and we made it to the pediatrician. The truck stalled out similarly at two other stopped intersections and on the parking deck before we arrived at our destination. I called my wife and had her drive our daughter home after the appointment. I drove the truck home, on the same route, and it acted as if nothing was wrong. It shifted hard between 1-3rd but otherwise performed well enough. I have scheduled a transmission rebuild with a non-Ford service center for 5/4/26. It is extremely concerning that these issues are happening to myself and others with the 10R80 10-speed and Ford isn’t being forced to recall these vehicles. My truck is a 2019 with 86000 miles now. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Apr 23, 2026 · Transmission · UT

Transmission Gear Failure VEHICLE: 2019 Ford F-150 MILEAGE: 67,000 ​Description of Incident: I am reporting a catastrophic internal mechanical failure of the 10R80 transmission. While driving, the vehicle emitted a strong, pungent odor of burnt transmission fluid followed by a total loss of gear engagement. The failure was sudden and occurred without a "Check Engine" light or warning, leaving the vehicle stranded in a dangerous position in active traffic. ​Technical Assessment of Cause: Upon professional teardown, it was determined that the internal gear sets were severely damaged and required full replacement. The transmission fluid was heavily oxidized (burnt), and the planetary gear assemblies showed signs of extreme thermal distress and mechanical chipping. This indicates a failure of the internal lubrication system or a structural defect in the gear hardening process, leading to metal-on-metal contact and total component failure at only 67,000 miles. ​Safety Concern: The suddenness of this gear failure creates a significant risk of a "stalled vehicle" scenario in high-speed environments. Furthermore, a mechanical gear failure carries the risk of internal components fracturing and potentially locking the rear wheels, which could lead to a complete loss of vehicle control. This is a premature failure of a major powertrain component that is advertised to last the life of the vehicle.

Filed Apr 20, 2026 · Transmission · CA

Transmission jerking out of gear and failing to shift into gear revving and pulling while trying to shift into next gear stalling in intersection.

Filed Apr 8, 2026 · Transmission · 62,500 miles · MO

The contact owns a 2019 Ford F-150. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the transmission hesitated to shift into gear. Additionally, the vehicle shuddered and stalled while driving. The engine revved and experienced rapid acceleration. The transmission shifted into reverse(R) one time, and the contact reversed into a parking space and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was able to restart and shift into gear afterwards. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but no diagnostic trouble codes were retrieved. The contact was informed that there may be water in the fuel line and to allow the vehicle to run out of fuel to drain the water. The failure persisted, and the vehicle was taken to a transmission specialist, who determined that the valve body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 62,500.